Shovel



M. HOKANSON S HOVEL Filed Aug. 20, 1925 g im/ lirrolr vsra Patented Get. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES FTENT ()FFICE.

MARTIN I-IOKANSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MARSHALL-WELLS COM- PANY, F DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHOVEL.

Application filed August 20, 1923. Serial No. 658,348.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for strengthening the shovel shaft, particularly at the po nt where it is secured to the shovel blade, against lateral or side bending stresses to which a shovel is frequently subjected.

A further object is to provide a handle of simple inexpensive construction which can be easily mounted on the shaft of the tool and formed of sheet metal in such a way that there are no rough or sharp corners with which the hand of the user may come in contact.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front view of a shovel embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner of mounting the handle on the shaft of the shovel;

Figure 3 is an edge orside view;

Figure d is a sectional View on the line H of Figure 1; 1

Figure 5 is a similar view showing a modified construction wherein the washer adjacent the rivet head has been eliminated;

Figure 6 is a detail view showing, in dotted lines, the blank in its open or unfolded position, and showing in full lines the handle partially formed;

Figure 7 is a sectional View on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Figure 3;

Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views showing a modified construction of the hand grip supporting arms.

In the drawing, 2 represents the blade of the shovel having an integral extension at one end which is folded to form a reinforcing blade 3 to which the shaft sections 4 and 4 are secured. The reinforcing blade 8 is interposed between the sections a and P and is comparatively thin, fitting snugly between the sections and serving to brace and strengthen the shaft or handle against a vertical pressure or stress thereon. This reinforcing blade forms the subject-matter of other applications for United States patents filed by me and I make no claim broadly, therefore, to the same herein. This blade being in a vertical plane, is adapted to receive edgewise any downward thrust or pressure on the shovelshaft or handle but offers comparatively little resistance to. side or lateral thrust or pressure. I therefore provide the sections 4 and P with opposing .recesses 6 in their'inner faces and correspondingrecesses 7 in their outer faces. In these recesses, I place washers 8 and 8 the washers 8 bearing on the opposite surfaces of the reinforcing blade 3 and the washers S beingseated in the recesses 7 in the outer surfaces of the sections. A rivet 9 passes through holes in the washers, reinforcing blade 3 and the sections 4 and 4; and is headed or upset on one of the washers 8 which is preferably countersunk, as shown in Figures 1 and 5; while the head 10 of the rivet bears against thewasher 8 at the outer side of the other section. Thus the wood sections are securely clamped against the central reinforcing blade and the washers, particularly those in the middle, bearing on the metallic blade and the Walls of the recesses cooperate with the rivet which is braced by the Walls of its bore in the shaft to resist any side thrust or pressure on the shaft andvgreatly strengthen it at the weakest point, particularly at the point adjacent the shovel blade. v

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified construction in which the washer 8 adjacentthe rivet head 10 is eliminated; the head of the rivet being seated in a recess 7 formed in the handle section 4?. The other end of the rivet is upset within a recess formed in the washer 8 on the other side of the shovel shaft from the rivet head 10.

In Figure 6, I have shown a plate pressed or stamped from sheet metal'to formthe handle portion of the shovel; the lower plate portion 11 being folded to form a sleeve 11 into which the upper end of the shovel shaft is inserted with holes 12 through which rivets 12 are passed for securing thehandle on the shovel. Sheet metal arms 13 are formed extending upwardly and outwardly from the end of the sleeve and the edges 14 of these arms are folded inwardly into abutting relation to present a smooth inner surface to the hand of the user, while a longitudinal fold or rib 15 is formed on the outer side of the arms to brace and stiffen them. A flanged socket 16, oval preferably in form, is provided at the outer ends of the arms adapted to receive the correspondingly shaped ends of a grip 17 that is mounted on a rivet bolt 18 which passes through said arms and grip and has its ends upset on the outer surfaces of the sockets. The shape of the grip and thesockets positively prevent the grip from being turned or rotated in the handle and presents a comfortable hand-fitting grip for the user of the shovel.

Figure 9 illustrates a slightly modified construction in which the inner face 19 of the arm is flattened instead of-being slightly curved as shown in Figure 8.

In Figure 10, a fold corresponding to the one shown in Figure?) is provided but the edges 20 of the arm are turned outwardly instead of inwardly leaving a gap running lengthwise on the inner surface of the arm leading to the space enclosed by the wall.

Both the constructions shown in Figures 9 and 10 are designed for ease and convenience of manufacture and have no particular preference over the form shown in Figure 8.

It will be noted that the reinforcing or,

strengthening ribs in all the figures are on the outer side of, the handle arms and that the inner surfaces of these arms are smooth and unobstructed. This is an important feature in shovel construction as it is desirable to avoid all rough surfaces or projections with which the hand of the user might come in contact.

A shovel of this type, while comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,will be extremely strongand durable and capable of resisting extreme stresses to which a tool of this kind is subjected.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shovel having a shaft or handle composed of wooden sections placed face to face, a metallic reinforcing blade between said sections, theinner faces of said sections having recesses therein and washers fitting within said recesses and seated on said metallic plate, and a rivet passing through said sections, said washers, and said blade, and having its ends upset or headed on the outer surfaces of said sections, said washers coop crating with said rivet to resist side or lateral thrust on the shovel.

2. A shovel shaft or handle composed of longitudinally divided wooden sections placed face to face, a metalhc relnforclng blade between them, the inner faces of said wooden sections and the outer surfaces thereof having recesses formed therein and washers fitting within said recesses, a rivet passunobstructed surface on the inner side of said arms, the outer ends of said arms having sockets therein and a hand grip having its ends seated in said sockets and secured therein. 7

4;. A shovel or spade handle, pressed'or stamped from sheet metal having a sleeve portion folded to a cylindrical form to receive a shovel'shaft, said sleeve portion having upwardly and outwardly extending arms integral therewith, said arms having a longitudinal fold or rib in their outer surfaces and having their edges folded to form an unobstructed surface on the inner side of said arms, the outer ends of said arms having oval flanged sockets therein, a hand grip oval in cross section having its ends seated in said sockets, and a rivet passing through the walls of said sockets and through said hand grip.

5. A shovel or spade handle, pressed or stamped from sheet metal and comprising a socket portion formed by folding or bending a sheet metal blank to a cylindrical form,

said socket portion having arms formed thereon with longitudinal ribs or'folds in their outer surfaces, the edges of said arms being turned inwardly in abutting relation to form unbroken. continuous inner surfaces thereon, said arms being curved transversely to provide a slightly rounded surface on the inner side of each arm, the outer portions of said arms having sockets therein and a hand grip having its ends seated within said sockets and secured therein.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of August, 1923.

' MARTIN HOKANSON, 

